Monday, August 11, 2008

Taboo Or Not Taboo? That Is the Question.

A few days ago, Cary Bass, Volunteer Coordinator, of the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) Office, issued a "foundation directive" to Wikiversity custodial admin, SB Johnny, to systematically remove from the pages of Wikiversity any and all links to Moulton's Blog.

When questioned about this unprecedented departure from Section 230 aloofness, SB Johnny replied:
Ask the guys on IRC [Internet Relay Chat] for details, but we've received word from them that links to Moulton's blog are specifically prohibited. I assume there will be a public explanation when they're ready. --SB_Johnny talk 21:11, 6 August 2008 (UTC)
It's been nearly a week, and no further explanation has come forth from Cary Bass, WMF General Counsel Mike Godwin, WMF Board Chairman Michael Snow, or anyone else at the Wikimedia Foundation Office.

Yesterday, SB Johnny made this move in the resultant chess game:
Suffice it to say that there have been myriad contradictory (mis-)communications on the subject. Please consider me "on Sabbatical" from the Ethics project. --SB_Johnny talk 10:09, 10 August 2008 (UTC)
Additional discussion of this curious turn of events may be found on Moulton's Talk Page at Wikiversity.

1 comment:

Moulton said...

There was a break in the case today.

We heard from Cary Bass, who posted on Wikiversity, started a discussion thread on the Wikimedia Foundation Mailing List, and also exchanged E-Mail with me.

There is also a lengthening discussion thread on my Wikversity Talk Page.

There is also a discussion thread on Wikipedia Review.